Ghost in the Machine

It kind of goes without saying that Bob Vylan’s new album ‘Bob Vylan presents the Price of Life’ is something worth listening to, in absolutely every sense. Here is its story.

- By Ben Tipple. Photographs by Derek Bremner

It could be worse,” Bobbie laughs in one of a handful of upbeat moments that cut through an otherwise sobering conversation. “People could ask us how we get our hair so big,” Bobby jumps in with a grin that rarely leaves his face. The two members of the highly charged powerhouse that is Bob Vylan are in the middle of discussing the themes on their new album, ‘Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life’, the furious follow-up to their unfiltered ‘We Live Here’ debut. Taking a break from the damnation of misplaced power dynamics, institutional bigotry and financial inequality, Bobby proudly holds up a popular guitar magazine he recently spoke to.

“We love music,” he says. “We are musicians.”

Last time out, ‘We Live Here’ placed Bob Vylan on the map entirely on their own terms. Although the powerful attack on institutional and societal racism was largely overlooked by the music industry elite, the response inspired drummer Bobbie and vocalist and guitarist Bobby (who welcomes being called Bob for ease) to set up their own label, Ghost Theatre. Their ethos remains simple; Bob Vylan look to use their growing success to support other artists with a message that’s overlooked by the mainstream. Artists keep their rights to their music, are offered the chance to be successful, and make money doing so. “You can keep your message unfiltered,”

Bob explains. “It doesn’t have to be tampered with.” It’s a natural continuation of Bob Vylan’s trajectory, rising outside of the corporate machine. It also means that duo themselves don’t have to hold back at all. The fury that underpinned ‘We Live Here’ carries through to ‘...The Price Of Life’, and tracks like ‘Pretty Songs’ lay the cards firmly on the table.